Local breweries take home the gold in international competition

John Harvard’s Brewery & Alehouse of Framingham and Cold Harbor Brewing Company of Westborough both took gold medals at the recent Great International Beer, Cider, Mead & Sake Competition.

Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers and Springdale Barrel Room of Framingham, as well as Flying Dreams Brewing Company and Wormtown Brewery of Worcester, also took multiple medals at the completion held at Brewport in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Oct. 27.

In all, more than 800 beverages were entered into the competition, which was judged by brewers, other beer industry professionals and beer media members, myself included.

John Harvard’s Flying spirit won gold in the “American Amber Ale” category, while Cold Harbor’s Mustache Stout won a gold in “Stout.”

Jack’s Abby got a silver in “Amber Lager” for Red Tape Lager and a bronze in “Helles Lager” for House Lager. The Barrel Aged Framinghammer took a bronze in “Baltic Porter.

Jack’s Abby’s off-shoot, Springdale, took a silver in “Wild Ale-American,” with Kriek Mythology while its Pearly Wit took a bronze in the “Belgian-Witbier” category.

Wormtown Brewery’s Be Hoppiest took a bronze in “Strong Beer-Imperial IPA” while their Spies Like Us took a silver in “Strong Beer-Russian Imperial Stout.”

The big winner is Flying Dreams of Worcester. They won a gold in “Sour & Wild Ale: Berliner Weiss, Flanders Red/Fruit Lambic,” with its cranberry sour. Dreaming of Summer took a bronze for “Saison,” while Hop Tart took a bronze in “Wheat Ale-American.”

I’ll be on hand as the special guest referee, so come on out and root on your favorite competitor.

A spicy read

And finally, Butch Heilshorn, the co-head brewer of one of my personal favorite brewery (Earth Eagle Brewings of Portsmouth, New Hampshire) has released a book, “Against All Hops.”

The book features brewing techniques and recipes for the anti-IPA, Gruits, a beer brewed with herbs and spices instead of hops. Each recipe is accompianed by tasting notes, and includes some history of brewing gruits.

“Against All Hops” is available now from Page Street Publishing Co. for $18.99.

Norman Miller is a Daily News staff writer. Email him at nmiller@wickedlocal.com or call 508-626-3823. Check out the Beer Nut blog at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/section/blogs01?taxid=646&start=2. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @RealBeerNut and on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerBeerNut.

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